Planning a Wedding on a Budget

Okay, Cinderella. Put down the registry scanner and back away slowly. Before you lose your head in the excitement of it all, it’s time for a reality check. Weddings are really expensive, and if you don’t plan ahead, you could soon find you’ve blown your whole budget on renting the venue alone.

Um … budget?

That's right, darling. We don't mean to be the cruel stepmother, but did you know that the average cost of a wedding today is almost $30,000? Now, before you run off weeping into your apron, know that your elegant affair is still within reach – you just have to be smart about it. And the first item on your brilliant new agenda is creating a budget.

Thinking Ahead

First things first: here's a rough breakdown of how much of your overall budget you should plan to spend on each component of your wedding:

Budget Breakdown

Reception Facility (includes hall & alcohol) 15-18%
Beauty & Health  2-3%
Bridal Attire  6-7%
Cakes & Pastries  2-4%
Catering  18-22%
Ceremony  3-5%
Decorations & Rentals  6-7%
Flowers   5-8%
Invitations & Favors  3-4%
Music & Entertainment  3-6%
Transportation  2-3%
Video Services  7-9%
Jewelry & Gifts (excludes engagement ring)  2-3%
Photography  8-10%
Tuxedos  1-2% 
Wedding Consultant  5-10%

All right, then. Next you will want to prioritize expenses and adjust percentages accordingly. Are you going without a wedding consultant? Great. Bump the daisies up to calla lilies, or spring for the string quartet. Are you totally bent on arriving in a horse-drawn carriage? Then maybe you don't need the lighting director, after all. If you're determined to serve filet mignon, then consider cutting off the open bar an hour earlier.

Shop around, do your research, think creatively, and enlist friends and family to help out where possible. You'll likely find that all of the wedding-day elements that are most important to you will remain within reach. Don't forget that your wedding is about being with those you love most and your future happiness together as a couple. Monogrammed matchbooks are nice, but they don't go all that far in stoking the eternal flame.

Breaking Down the Biggest Expenses

Reception

The reception venue and catering costs tend to dominate the budget, so shop wisely and think hard about must-haves and potential compromises. Consider that the cost of an upscale venue like The Ritz or The Four Seasons could put one of those twinkles in your eye through four years of college. A beach or outdoor wedding can be a lot less expensive – and Mother Nature's skillful decorating is pro bono, too.

From private clubs to museums to favorite restaurants, there are endless venue options. Think about your mutual interests, too – you and your fiancé might come up with a super-cool and creative venue that also won't put a dent in your financial future.

If you simply can't part with your vision of a royal ball, think about cutting down your guest list. An intimate reception could put the more lavish venues within your reach. 

Dress

Unless you have a bundle of birds and woodland creatures to help you whip up a ball gown, your dress could be a significant expense. But before you go gaga and spend twice as much as you intended, make sure to know your options – there are budget-saving alternatives.

If you know exactly what you want in a dress, consider having it made by a seamstress. You'll get a custom original for a lot less than an off-the-rack designer dress. Also, check out Filene's Basement's ”Running of the Brides” event, where brides-to-be can grab exquisite designer gowns for a fraction of the original price.

If you're having a low-key event and don't see yourself in a four-foot train, make sure to check out bridesmaid dress selections. They come in lots of styles and are often available in white.

Finally, you might think your vision can only be realized in the finest-quality silk taffeta, but you'd be surprised by what's available at more budget-friendly dress shops, such as David's Bridal. You might find exactly the style you want in a less expensive, but equally beautiful, fabric.

Photographers

Immortalizing your wedding memories can come with a hefty price tag. Downgrading the photographer might seem like a reasonable course of action, but don't – once the day is over, the photos are the only tangible thing that remains. You might be tempted to save money by having a family member take the wedding pictures, but you'd better prepare yourself for a lot of missed moments, bad lighting, and cropped-off heads. And look out for that amazingly inexpensive guy you found on Craigslist. There's no telling what could happen there, especially if he's asking for money up front.

So, hey, of course we want you to go with Studio Blue, but we will try to remain somewhat objective here. There are several things you have to consider when choosing a photographer. Always shop carefully and read the fine print. Many studios will try to cut corners by hiring inexperienced photographers or charging you for every print. If you're concerned about your budget, look for a photography company that hires experienced professional photographers, but takes advantage of the internet to save on overhead (oh, like yours truly! ahem). By allowing you to view your photos and design your album online, studio costs are eliminated. Also make sure that you have full rights to your negatives so that you can share your photos with friends and don't have to pay extra for every print.

Cake

Those two-story fondant confections might be all the rage, but really – do you need to throw down hundreds of dollars on a pile of sugar and flour? To go easy on your budget, you might display a modestly sized, but beautifully decorated cake, then “cheat” with a simple layer cake that you bring out already sliced. Or, if size really does matter, consider a faux base layer for your cake. The baker can ice a cardboard layer to look like the real deal and no one will be the wiser.

But if you want to be truly original, why not go with a regional or seasonal dessert? New Orleans beignets, Maine blueberry crumble, or autumn pumpkin pies are going to be more a lot more unique and budget-friendly than a typical wedding cake.

Music

If it's important to you, by all means, budget for a live band. If you're open to alternatives, however, a good DJ can be had for a reasonable amount of money. They'll even play old standards, if that's what you want.

For super-customized tunes, you can often just rent the sound system from the venue and plug in a digital music player with your own playlist. Just make sure you have someone electronically proficient on hand, in case of any technical difficulties.